Shakuntalabai @ Sakubai Mehatar Nareti And ORS. v. State Of Maharashtra, Thr. Secy. Revenue And Forest Department, Mumbai And ORS.
2026:BHC-NAG:3935-DB 1 115-WP-2048-26.odt
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY,
NAGPUR BENCH, AT NAGPUR.
WRIT PETITION NO.2048 OF 2026 Shakuntalabai @ Sakubai Mehatar Nareti, Gondia and ors. vs.
State of Maharashtra, Thr. Secretary, Revenue & Forest Dept. Mantralaya, Mumbai and ors. - -- - -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, Court's or Judge's orders appearances, Court's orders of directions and Registrar's orders - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Shri Kshitij Jain, Advocate with Shri P. N. Sangidwar, Advocate for petitioners. Shri D. P. Thakare, Additional Government Pleader for respondent Nos.1 to 7. CORAM : ANIL S. KILOR AND RAJ D. WAKODE, JJ. DATED : 9th March, 2026 In the present writ petition, following are the prayers made by the petitioners :
a) Issue a Writ of Mandamus or direction to the respondents to include the names of the petitioners in the list of eligible persons for rehabilitation compensation under the wildlife sanctuary/acquisition project of Navegaobandh. b) Issue a Writ of Mandamus or direction to the respondents to include the names of the petitioners in the list for compensation for trees standing on their lands, and to compute such compensation as per the applicable schedule/policy/valuation norms, and pay the same.
c) Issue a writ/direction commanding the respondent s to pay to petitioners the amount of Rs.10,00,000 (Ten lakh) (or the relevant package amount as per policy) to each petitioner No.1 to 15, along with compensation for tress, within a specified timeframe. d) Issue a writ/direction commanding the respondents to pay to petitioner Nos.16 to 20 compensation for trees as per today's valuation, within a specified timeframe.
e) Direct that interest be paid by respondents on the delayed payment of compensation (for land/tree) from the date of entitlement till actual disbursement, at a rate to be fixed by this
2 115-WP-2048-26.odt Court, as per law under Sections 77-80 of LARR Act, 2013 f) Direct respondents to produce and place on record the reasoned orders/proceedings/documents (including maps, survey, baseline survey reports, Gao Namuna 8A, tax assessment list) upon which the rejection of claim was based, and that such documents be made available to petitioners for inspection and objections. g) Pass such further or other writ, order or direction as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances, in favour of the petitioner.
2.
Considering the above referred prayers and the fact that no decision is yet taken by the Rehabilitation Authority/Collector, we are of the opinion that it would be appropriate to refer the present writ petition to the respondent No.2-Collector, Gondia and request him to decide the issue raised in the petition.
3.
Accordingly, we direct the respondent No.2-Collector, Gondia to treat the present petition as a representation made by the petitioners and decide the same within a period of twelve weeks from the date of production of this order along with copy of the petition by the petitioners. If the Collector, Gondia deems it necessary, he shall grant hearing to the petitioners.
4.
The decision taken thereupon shall be communicated to the petitioners within two weeks from the date of such decision. 5.
Writ petition is disposed of in aforesaid terms. No order as to costs.
(Raj D. Wakode, J.) (Anil S. Kilor, J.) Asmita Signed by: Smt. Asmita A. Bhandakkar Designation: PS To Honourable Judge Date: 11/03/2026 11:24:16